Introduction
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Clinch WPL Title. A Thrilling Victory .The Women’s Premier League (WPL) final held on March 17, 2024, witnessed an intense battle between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) women’s team. In a nail-biting encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, RCB emerged victorious, securing their first-ever WPL title.
Match Summary
Toss: DC won the toss and chose to bat first.
Inning-1 (DC): They scored 113 runs for 10 wickets in 18.3 overs.
Inning-2 (RCB): RCB chased down the target, scoring 115 runs for 2 wickets in 19.3 overs.
Key Performances
Player of the Match: Sophie Molineux (RCB)
Sophie Molineux was the star of the final match. She bowled brilliantly, taking 3 crucial wickets and conceding only 20 runs in her 4.0 overs. Her performance turned the tide in RCB’s favor.
Top Run Scorers:
Ellyse Perry (DC): Ellyse Perry was consistent throughout the tournament and finished as the top run-scorer for DC with 312 runs in 8 matches.
Meg Lanning (DC): Meg Lanning also contributed significantly, scoring 308 runs in 8 matches
Top Wicket Takers:
Marizanne Kapp (DC): Marizanne Kapp was impressive with the ball, taking 11 wickets in 6 matches.
Sophie Ecclestone (DC): Sophie Ecclestone matched Kapp’s performance, also claiming 11 wickets in 8 matches.
RCB’s Remarkable Journey
RCB’s journey to the WPL title was filled with ups and downs. Let’s take a closer look at their path to victory:
Group Stage:
Group Stage: RCB started the tournament on a high note, winning 5 out of their 7 group stage matches. Their batting lineup, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, consistently delivered.
Semi-Finals:
In the semi-finals, RCB faced the formidable Mumbai Indians (MI). It was a low-scoring thriller, with RCB defending 140 runs. Poonam Yadav’s spin magic (3 wickets for 18 runs) played a crucial role in their victory.
The Final:
The final against DC was a high-pressure game. DC’s batting collapsed under pressure, thanks to Sophie Molineux’s brilliant spell. RCB’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Alyssa Healy, set the tone for the chase, and Harmanpreet Kaur’s calm finish sealed the deal.
Celebrations and Future Prospects
RCB celebrated their historic win with joyous scenes on the field. The team’s unity and determination were evident throughout the tournament. With this victory, RCB has set a benchmark for women’s cricket in India.
Looking ahead, RCB will aim to build on this success and continue their dominance in the upcoming seasons. The WPL has provided a platform for talented players to showcase their skills, and RCB’s triumph is a testament to the growth of women’s cricket in the country.
In conclusion, the 2024 WPL final will be remembered as a thrilling contest, and Sophie Molineux’s outstanding performance will forever be etched in the annals of women’s cricket history.
PERRY FINISHES IT OFF
- Elysse Perry played well for RCB in the semi-final (possibly batting or bowling).
- In the final, Perry joined Smriti Mandhana in the batting order.
- Perry played cautiously, helping to stabilize the innings by batting carefully and avoiding getting out.
- Mandhana also played cautiously.
- Because both batters were careful, the run rate (number of runs scored per over) started to get higher. This means they needed to score more runs quickly in order to win the match.
It was getting tense! RCB needed 53 runs to win with only 4 overs left. The opposition captain, Lanning, was smart with her bowling choices. She used Shikha Pandey really effectively and got her to bowl all her 4 overs early on. Shikha did a great job, taking out the dangerous batter Devine and only giving away 11 runs.
The pressure of needing runs got to Mandhana. She tried to smash a big shot off Mani but ended up getting caught by Arundhati Reddy in the mid-wicket area. Luckily, Perry and Richa Ghosh stayed calm. They played sensibly and secured the victory for RCB with 8 wickets still in hand and 3 balls to spare!
Shreyanka cleaned her tail.
The Delhi Capitals (DC) batters were having a rough time. Molineux made things even worse by running out Radha Yadav, which left DC with only 87 runs on the scoreboard and just 7 batters left (out of 11). Just when it seemed all hope was lost, Minnu Mani and Arundhati Roy started scoring runs and even got DC past 100. But their good work didn’t last long. Shreyanka got rid of Minnu Mani, taking her second wicket of the match.